Tested, practical tools to feel good and function effectively at work

WHAT IS PERMAH?

Professor Martin Seligman, one of the world’s leading researchers in positive psychology and human flourishing, suggests that wellbeing is cultivated by the presence in our lives of positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment. This framework is often referred to as ‘PERMA’.

Other researchers – ourselves included – also believe that the cultivation of your Health by eating well, moving regularly, and sleeping deeply is one of the hygiene factors of wellbeing. Everything just gets easier when this is present.

So, in this tool we’ve added Health to Martin’s framework, making it ‘PERMAH’.

POSITIVE EMOTION the right balance of heartfelt positivity to boost our resilience

ENGAGEMENT the regular development of our strengths – those things we’re good at and enjoy doing

RELATIONSHIPS the creation of authentic, energizing connections

MEANING a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves

ACCOMPLISHMENT the belief and ability to do the things that matter most to us

HEALTH eating well, moving regularly, sleeping deeply

Just like muscle groups, or areas of fitness, these domains of wellbeing can be tested, targeted and developed through the practice of ongoing ‘Positive Interventions’. Created by wellbeing practitioners and researchers around the globe, these include exercises like keeping a gratitude journal, breaking the grip on rumination, developing your strengths, finding meaning in small tasks and overcoming self-doubt. The PERMAH Wellbeing Survey includes more than 200 (and growing) positive interventions you can try.

As we began teaching thousands of leaders and employees in every kind of workplace you can imagine, how to improve their wellbeing and saw the professional and personal shifts people were achieving, we asked Martin: “What would be the best way to improve wellbeing in workplaces? ”He said, “Measure it.”

It’s our hope is that the PERMAH Workplace Survey makes it easier for each of us to consistently flourish.